. ♪ >> in 1837 martin van buren became the first president to use hail to the chief at his swearing-in, which was held in march. march 4th was the previous inauguration date because it left lame duck presidents four months. the first inaugural ball started with james and dolly madison in 1809. dwight eisenhower began holding multiple parties. john f. kennedy attended five balls in 1961. ♪ save the last dance for me >> bill clinton's second inauguration holds the all time high for 14 events. in 1949 harry truman was the first president to have his inauguration televised. an estimated 10 million americans watched at the time it was the single most watched television event in history. presidents were now able to broadcast their speeches to the entire nation. >> we have to stand -- >> the very thought that a man in a wheelchair that had been stricken with polio who couldn't walk, is trying to put optimism into our national lungs still continues to move -- you almost get goose bumps every time you hear fdr. john f. kennedy's famous 1960 address lives forever because it was written so well